OTTAWA - APRIL 9: Chris Neil #25 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the New Jersey Devils at Scotiabank Place on April 9, 2009 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH - JUNE 09: Marian Hossa #81 of the Detroit Red Wings shoots the puck as Brooks Orpik #44 of the Pittsburgh Penguins blocks tries for the block during Game Six of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Mellon Arena on June 9, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)

CALGARY, AB - MARCH 30: Michael Cammalleri #13 of the Calgary Flames skates against the San Jose Sharks on March 30, 2009 at Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Sharks won 2-1. (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images)

‘On your mark … get set … open your checkbooks!’ Then NHL general managers begin their annual feeding frenzy in the free-agent market.

Here is a wish list for the Wild:

1) Mike Cammalleri — He provides the offense the Wild are seeking. The thing is, at 5 feet 9, Cammalleri will be more in your belly button than in your face. But he’s at least 80 points waiting to happen. This is where the bulk of the free-agent money should go.

2) Chris Neil — You want in your face? This guy will be in your face. A tough customer with solid hockey skills, Neil is good enough to take a regular shift and strong enough to battle tirelessly in front of the net. He and Cal Clutterbuck on the same line would be the scourge of the NHL. He’d be a bargain if he would take about $1.75 million per year for three years.

3) Saku Koivu — There is no question Koivu’s offensive skills are on the decline. But the Wild lead the league in third-line centers, despite recently parting ways with Peter Olvecky and Dan Fristche. Koivu still can make enough plays to anchor one of the top two lines. And playing with little brother Mikko, he might find himself rejuvenated. This should be no more than a two-year deal.

4) Francois Beauchemin — He came back from a torn ACL late last season, so he might be affordable. This is a playoff-tested defenseman who could see plenty of time on the power play. No doubt Anaheim will try to re-sign him up until the last minute. The defenseman I really like is Montreal’s Mike Komisarek. But the word is his agent is asking for the moon.

Meanwhile, even though there is little chance of his coming here, I wouldn’t waste my time with Marian Hossa. Anyone else getting a little tired of these guys acting like the Slovakian Mafia and telling everybody what they’re going to do and when they’re going to do it?

Hossa, whose awful, goal-less performance in the Stanley Cup Finals cost the Red Wings the championship, can go play with Marian Gaborik in Vancouver, Australia or hell, for all I care. The only sure thing is that, as soon as he gets somewhere, the rumors will start about his next destination.

Tom Powers can be reached at tpowers@pioneerpress.com.

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